Photography and Thoughts About Life and Aging

Togetherness

When J & I first considered living in Florida for four months out of the year I was a little concerned. We had spent two or three weeks here every January for many years, and sometimes we got on each other’s nerves – too much togetherness. Would we be happy away from family and friends and all that sustains us up north? Sun, warmth, green, flowers, and open windows usually trump cold, grey, snow, grey, cold, shoveling, driving on ice, dressing in layers, and freezing my tush off (another way of saying cold). I experience so much less pain in the warmth of Floridawinters so it was something I needed to do, but I worried.

Today I am leaving to go about 60 miles north to spend a few days with my book club friends (The Bookies) from up north at a condo owned by one of them. If I had $10 for every time J has said he is going to miss me, I would be able to buy myself a new camera lens. I am going to miss him, too. I am going to miss his quiet company, the semi-routine we have that fills our days.

Our life has evolved as we needed it to. We bought a small condo that has just enough projects to keep J busy. He has more energy than I do and loves to putter. We have met people and go down to the pool if we need companionship. J is more of an extrovert so once a day he grabs his hat and disappears. I know he is at the pool or is walking around looking for someone to talk with. He comes back with some tidbit of condo news or the name of a new restaurant to try. While he is gone I enjoy the solitude – or sometimes join him for a swim and some chit-chat.

We have found a church that is very different from the one up north – important in our lives in a different way. We have found a few favorite restaurants and have thousands yet to try. J enjoys being able to go for almost-daily bike rides and I enjoy always having someplace to go to take a photo or two or a hundred. We are no longer on vacation – we have found a second home.

I’m going to miss you, honey, but will see you on Sunday. I’m also really happy that you miss me – that we still enjoy each other after all these years. Say hi to our friends at the pool for me while I’m gone and remember to use those blueberries on your Cherrios.

Hi Pat! I clicked over when I saw “considered living in Florida” from you in my inbox. Then I get here and see you have switched to a theme I tried out this morning. How funny.. great minds or picture takers think the same. I hope you don’t mind but you are going to have to put up with me switching to the same theme. My hold up was that I couldn’t add my tag line for the description of my blog title. BUT what I wanted to say is that you do not know what this blog post did for me this morning. CH and I have been debating a permanent move to Venice, Florida and this post just so resonated with me. I love your thoughts you have shared. Thank you so much. CH is in Venice now with The Mama while I put up with what I hope is Missouri’s last gasp of winter. Love love love your picture! Very sweet post Pat.. ♥

I really like this theme, but like you am irritated that I couldn’t add my tagline. I make a longer title instead – but not what I want. I am still deciding how I want to use the menu on the left and at the end. I am eager to see what you do with it.
Welcome to Florida. We have never lived here in the summer and still love Michigan and are able to split our time. I am so glad my post resonated with you – it was a spur-of-the moment decision to do it.

I probably won’t do much more with it. I don’t have anything interesting to add as pages right now. I will let it rest a bit. I also don’t like that it doesn’t have a quick way to get back to the top of the blog!! Enjoy your getaway! I am missing CH down there in Florida.. 🙂

well at first glance- the photo grabbed me because I wondered how you caught those legs in such coordinated stride (and was wondering if more legs do that and I have just not paid attention. But then I also realized the photo matched the stride you wrote about in this post! and how it has become a second home – and the nice companionship and love you two have – so nice!!!
oh – and my husband LOVES blueberries – but not really on cereal –
have a nice time with the “bookies” 🙂

The photo was pure luck. I took a about three as they walked past, and this one I held onto because they so mirrored each other. Yes people do mirror each other in their movements but we don’t always catch it so nicely. Thanks for the nice comment., y.

After spending several weeks in FL, I was asked by a friend if my husband & I still got along. It seemed such an odd question! I think our extended vacations bring us closer rather than getting on each other’s nerves. But, I think the reason is that we each have our different things to do separatly throughout the week.

After this long,cold winter, we are considering an extended stay in the Sunshine State next year. I’m just beginning my research as our vacation place at the beach isn’t somewhere we could stay for months. As we’ve discussed previously, we vacation in the same general area. I would love to ask you some questions about your experience with finding your condo. Can I email you directly? I should have your email address since you’ve commented on my blog. No need to post it here. Thanks.

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